Poconos prepares for Frankenstorm; generators sold out across area

Emergency officials all over the Poconos were gearing up Friday for Hurricane Sandy, putting plans in place for whatever comes with the storm.

ANDREW SCOTT

Emergency officials all over the Poconos were gearing up Friday for Hurricane Sandy, putting plans in place for whatever comes with the storm.

"We're keeping an eye on the forecast and staying in touch with the emergency responders and elected officials in our municipalities to see what, if anything, they're going to need," said Monroe County Office of Emergency Services Director Guy Miller.

Barrett Township reportedly was the part of Monroe County hit hardest by Hurricane Irene last year, with power being knocked out to the township's more than 3,800 residents.

"I'm in communication with both township elected officials and our volunteer fire company," said Grover Cleveland, township emergency coordinator and volunteer firefighter. "And we'll be in touch with county emergency management personnel so that we're all on the same page."

Township roadmaster John Seese and his crew are working to keep drains and gullies clear to help reduce any road flooding that might occur, Cleveland said. Meanwhile, owners of lakes with dams, such as Skytop Resort and Spruce Lake Retreat, have been contacted and advised to lower their lake water levels to help prevent spillover.

Should extended power outages occur and a township emergency be declared — as it was with Irene — the Route 191 firehouse, across from the former ambulance building, will be on standby with a non-potable-water buffalo and bottled drinking water, Cleveland said. And the municipal building will again be the center for coordinating emergency relief efforts, he said.

Middle Smithfield Township was another area hard-hit by last year's hurricane. If residents lose power in this storm, they again will be able to shower and pick up bottled water and ice at designated locations in Country Club of the Poconos off Route 209 (Milford Road), said township supervisor Annette Atkinson.

Road crew vehicles and equipment are in perfect working order in case any fallen trees and downed wires need to be cleared away, Atkinson said.

In Pike County, folks are also preparing for the storm.

In Delaware Township, signs are being prepared to direct motorists, if needed, and preliminary plans have been made to activate the emergency management center in the township building. The emergency management center is rigged with computers, land-line telephone service, televisions and cots for emergency responders.

Milford Mayor Robert "Bo" Fean says the Milford street department was out cleaning storm catch basins for optimum rain water drainage. Official trucks are also being filled with gas, the fire department is ready to mobilize and generators are ready to go.

"When any big storm approaches, there are things residents should do to prepare themselves ahead of time, like making sure you're stocked up on food, bottled water and any medications you need and, more importantly, a charged cellphone, battery-operated radio and flashlights," Miller said.

Many of Monroe County's home improvement stores had sold out of generators Friday, and phones were ringing off the hook from people asking if any more were in stock.

"We have an emergency requisition order in for more generators to come to our Bartonsville and Mount Pocono locations," said Assistant Store Manager Bill Marshall at Lowe's in Bartonsville. "Hopefully, we'll have some more generators in the next couple of days."

Home Depot likewise had sold out.

"We sold our last generator (Thursday) night," Home Depot's Assistant Store Manager Dan Maturana said. "We've been taking tons of phone calls since then. We're hoping to get more in tonight."

Cramer's, which has its corporate office in East Stroudsburg, was one store that still had generators as of Friday morning.

In case any residents have to be evacuated from their homes, the American Red Cross of the Poconos will have shelters set up in central locations to be announced, said Executive Director Jim Rienhardt of the Red Cross Stroudsburg office.

"We have a disaster action team of volunteers ready to man both our office and our centralized shelters if needed," Rienhardt said. "The regional Red Cross office is ready to send more teams and resources throughout northeast Pennsylvania if needed. And it will all be coordinated with emergency management officials in each county."

Also on standby if needed are Salvation Army volunteers, who serve food to evacuated residents at the Salvation Army's East Stroudsburg and Mount Pocono locations as well as at the Red Cross shelters. There will also be a mobile canteen for transporting food and bottled water to residents unable to travel, said Major James Gingrich at the Salvation Army's East Stroudsburg site.

Pocono Medical Center is ready as well. Spokesman Geoffrey Roche said, "PMC has already planned to ensure adequate staffing, and if necessary, has plans to shelter essential personnel in the event that travel becomes difficult."